Smirnov-chasers with dash of cheek

From European Voice's Entre-Nous column

3/7/06, 5:00 PM CET

Updated 4/23/14, 8:37 PM CET

EU officials who are monitoring the border between Ukraine and Moldova have a diplomatic problem. The reason they are there is because the disputed territory of Transdniestria stretches along that border and they are supposed to bolster customs and immigration security. The EU does not recognise Transdniestria and has since 2003 imposed a visa ban on the leaders of the self-styled Moldovan Republic of Transdniestria. So what to do when Igor Smirnov, the leader of the republic, makes a trip from his fiefdom across the border to Odessa? Smirnov complained that his visits were being hampered by lengthy queues at the border. The monitors do not want to give Smirnov VIP status. On the other hand, they don’t want to upset the most powerful man in the neighbourhood.According to the grapevine, the solution arrived at is for Smirnov’s aides to telephone ahead of his arrival. The border guards then work like fury to clear the existing queues, so that by the time his cavalcade arrives, he can be cleared for onward travel in no time. Hence the EN tip to travellers in Transdniestria: if you want to cross the border with minimum delay, get there just before Smirnov does.

There is something splendidly parochial about the state-aid investigation launched last week by the European Commission’s competition department into JC Decaux, a French advertising company. The question …